Jets @ Leafs - Feb. 21st, 7:30pm - TSN4, Fan 590

[rdowdall]

I wish I had the time/energy to list all the people who've been whipping boys on this board over the years.  It's almost always 4th liners.

We are all guilty of saying disparaging/overly effusive things about players.  It goes both ways.  I actually just wonder what it would be like if you were to read that.  It's kind of like that Celebrities reading Tweets segment.  Will it ever even out where there is more of a constraint over what gets put out on the internet, or will it just continue on this way?

 

[Joe S.]

Gauthier was between Martin and Sosh at practice. Looks like Babs is starting to realize Smith is trash.

Will he ever come around on Hunwick and Polak?

Because the alternative is....?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I wish I had the time/energy to list all the people who've been whipping boys on this board over the years.  It's almost always 4th liners.

Really? Kessel. Gardiner. Phaneuf. Reimer. Bozak/Grabbo depending on which side of that debate you were on. I think the only "whipping boys" that we've had in the past little while that would have been considered 4th liners are Orr and McLaren, and I'm not sure you can tell me any of that criticism was unwarranted.

 

[Zee]

Gauthier was between Martin and Sosh at practice. Looks like Babs is starting to realize Smith is trash.

Will he ever come around on Hunwick and Polak?

Because the alternative is....?

Two people not named Hunwick and Polak?

 

[Zee]

Matthews looks like he is drained:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/matthews-i-am-sure-it-s-going-to-be-a-pretty-intense-game~1061864

Totally random Matthews comment, everytime he's on TV my wife says that he reminds her of Jack White from the White Stripes.

 

[TimKerr]

I wish I had the time/energy to list all the people who've been whipping boys on this board over the years.  It's almost always 4th liners.

Really? Kessel. Gardiner. Phaneuf. Reimer. Bozak/Grabbo depending on which side of that debate you were on. I think the only "whipping boys" that we've had in the past little while that would have been considered 4th liners are Orr and McLaren, and I'm not sure you can tell me any of that criticism was unwarranted.

You forgot McCabe

 

[ZBBM]

I wish I had the time/energy to list all the people who've been whipping boys on this board over the years.  It's almost always 4th liners.

Really? Kessel. Gardiner. Phaneuf. Reimer. Bozak/Grabbo depending on which side of that debate you were on. I think the only "whipping boys" that we've had in the past little while that would have been considered 4th liners are Orr and McLaren, and I'm not sure you can tell me any of that criticism was unwarranted.

Of that group, Phaneuf I'll give you.  The rest, opinion was pretty deeply divided.  And the point isn't that criticism isn't unwarranted.  It's the outsize effect that some put on the play of 4th liners.

 

[ZBBM]

I wish I had the time/energy to list all the people who've been whipping boys on this board over the years.  It's almost always 4th liners.

We are all guilty of saying disparaging/overly effusive things about players.  It goes both ways.  I actually just wonder what it would be like if you were to read that.  It's kind of like that Celebrities reading Tweets segment.  Will it ever even out where there is more of a constraint over what gets put out on the internet, or will it just continue on this way?

Well, Eleanor Roosevelt said it best: no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.  I would hope that anyone who's made the sacrifices and effort that it takes to get to the NHL could withstand cheap shots from some anonymous guy on the Internet.

 

[ZBBM]

I wish I had the time/energy to list all the people who've been whipping boys on this board over the years.  It's almost always 4th liners.

Really? Kessel. Gardiner. Phaneuf. Reimer. Bozak/Grabbo depending on which side of that debate you were on. I think the only "whipping boys" that we've had in the past little while that would have been considered 4th liners are Orr and McLaren, and I'm not sure you can tell me any of that criticism was unwarranted.

You forgot McCabe

And I'll give you McCabe. 

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Of that group, Phaneuf I'll give you.  The rest, opinion was pretty deeply divided.  And the point isn't that criticism isn't unwarranted.  It's the outsize effect that some put on the play of 4th liners.

I think the guys I named still fall into the definition of whipping boys. Nobody is going to be universally despised in a fanbase. Even Phaneuf had his fans.

And I'm still not sure where all the 4th line whipping boys comes from. If anything there have been a number that we've liked over the past decade. Mayers, Primeau, Brent, Sjostrom, Brown, Bodie, Smith were all treated pretty fairly.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Because the alternative is....?

Two people not named Hunwick and Polak?

The two other defencemen on the roster would be a decent start.

 

[Zee]

Because the alternative is....?

Two people not named Hunwick and Polak?

The two other defencemen on the roster would be a decent start.

I mean, we've never gotten a long look at a 3rd pairing that doesn't include one of both of those guys.  Sure Marincin has had issues, but i don't think he is worse than those two.  And this other guy they picked up Marchenko, we haven't even seen yet so that would be a nice start to see if he has anything to offer?  Can they at least get a spell of 3-4 games together and see if the team does any better than the current bottom pairing?

 

[rdowdall]

I wish I had the time/energy to list all the people who've been whipping boys on this board over the years.  It's almost always 4th liners.

We are all guilty of saying disparaging/overly effusive things about players.  It goes both ways.  I actually just wonder what it would be like if you were to read that.  It's kind of like that Celebrities reading Tweets segment.  Will it ever even out where there is more of a constraint over what gets put out on the internet, or will it just continue on this way?

Well, Eleanor Roosevelt said it best: no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.  I would hope that anyone who's made the sacrifices and effort that it takes to get to the NHL could withstand cheap shots from some anonymous guy on the Internet.

It's a quote that I would agree with, and I agree with your point that athletes are generally people with thick skins that can take criticism.

I remember when Danny Heatley came back to Ottawa for the first time.  There was a fan who called in to the afternoon show on the radio station and said "I hope Danny Heatley dies in a fire".  The caller was angry and said it a tone that wasn't all that funny, but the hosts laughed when he said it.  If you step back though and think about what that person is saying, I think that kinda crosses a line.  That makes me wonder though where the line really should be. 

 

[TBLeafer]

Well with both Myers still injured and Trouba suspended, this will be a very winnable game, even with Marner out.

Laich just waived, maybe that will help Ottawa. 

GO LEAFS GO!!!

 

[Zee]

Well with both Myers still injured and Trouba suspended, this will be a very winnable game, even with Marner out.

Laich just waived, maybe that will help Ottawa. 

GO LEAFS GO!!!

Can't take them lightly despite the injuries.  Leafs have to play right and play fast.

 

[Bill_Berg]

Matthews looks like he is drained:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/matthews-i-am-sure-it-s-going-to-be-a-pretty-intense-game~1061864

They ask him if he checks Laine's point totals, and that the comparison will be there for 20 years, and one guy even says 'you know this will be a topic of conversation for years', or something along those lines.

I doubt this topic will ever be as hot as it is this season. I'm sure some comparisons will be made from time to time in future seasons, but the same 5 questions 2-10 times a year, every year for the next 20? Even the media isn't that boring.

 

[Zee]

Matthews looks like he is drained:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/matthews-i-am-sure-it-s-going-to-be-a-pretty-intense-game~1061864

They ask him if he checks Laine's point totals, and that the comparison will be there for 20 years, and one guy even says 'you know this will be a topic of conversation for years', or something along those lines.

I doubt this topic will ever be as hot as it is this season. I'm sure some comparisons will be made from time to time in future seasons, but the same 5 questions 2-10 times a year, every year for the next 20? Even the media isn't that boring.

Yeah I have to agree with you.  It's only a hot topic this season because they're both legitimately up for the Calder.  I suppose it could be revisited again in future seasons if they're both up for the Hart or Selke, but really, how likely is that?

 

[disco]

Ugh, stop badgering our future captain with the boring Laine questions. Nobody cares. AM is my favourite player but I don't even watch his interviews. To be fair though it's their job to fill the notepad, gotta feed the beast. On that note, Go Leafs Go!

 

[disco]

https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/834076163769253888

 

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/834076163769253888

This is becoming a recurring theme with Babcock. He always seems irked when his injured players aren't playing.